The death of Jesus grants us life in Him. Essentially, the sacrifice of one results in life for many. In his letter to the Roman believers, Paul writes in chapter 5:10, ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 

The Cross of Christ reconciles us to God through faith. We recently celebrated His resurrection, which directs our attention back to the cross. Each time we participate in The Lord’s Supper, it serves as a reminder of His death. We must grasp the significance of His death to fully appreciate our new life. Essentially, we cannot have one without the other.

I heard that a believer who honors the cross without acknowledging the resurrection will experience a life of defeat. The encouraging news is that we can avoid living in defeat because Jesus truly rose from the grave. By emerging from the tomb, Jesus confirmed the importance of the cross and substantiated His claim of divinity. Moreover, our reconciliation with God means that in our new lives, we possess the power to follow, obey, and enjoy Him.

Thanks to Him and His actions, we have the strength to overcome anger, frustration, addiction, and more. By surrendering our wills to His, we are sanctified, enabling us to persevere, cultivate our godly character, and find the hope essential for every life situation. A verse that has deeply impacted my journey is Galatians 2:20: ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

This, my friend, is living the resurrected life. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory! Colossians 1:27: ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Today, reflect on the fact that as followers of Christ, we're rescued from aimlessness to a life of purpose. The decision is ours; we can either submit or persist in our defiance, believing we have all the answers. The cross symbolizes death—dying to oneself. The Resurrection signifies life—embracing His life within us, the fulfillment we've sought since we became children of God.

He lives in you so that He may live through you!

Blessings on a surrendered life,

Gene